CHELSEA'S top summer transfer target Radamel Falcao moved a step closer to Stamford Bridge after it was revealed that Atletico Madrid are lining up out-of-favour Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez as his replacement.

Mario Gomez's proposed switch to Atletico Madrid could pave the way for Falcao to sign for Chelsea

Falcao has been in stunning form for Atletico this season, scoring 23 goals for the Madrid outfit and helping them overhaul local rivals Real into second place in La Liga behind leaders Barcelona.

However Falcao's form has seen him linked with some of Europe's biggest sides, such as Premier League club Chelsea.

Falcao hit a hat-trick earlier in the season to deny the Blues the European Super Cup trophy, and the Colombian has remained in owner Roman Abramovich's sights ever since.

Falcao hit a hat-trick earlier in the season to deny the Blues the European Super Cup trophy

And it now appears that Atletico are making contingency plans in the event that Falcao does depart, by signalling their interest in Bayern Munich's German striker Mario Gomez.

According to Spanish sports newspaper AS, Gomez has been pin-pointed by Los Rojiblancos as an experienced finisher who may be available for a cut-price deal given Bayern are expected to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski in the summer.

Atletico traditionally line up striking replacements when their influential marksmen look like moving on, having brought in Diego Forlan and Falcao himself to offset the departures of Fernando Torres and Sergio Aguero in recent seasons.

While Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani and Edin Dzeko remain higher up Atletico's shortlist, a move for Gomez - who is currently being kept out of the Bavarians forward line by Croation striker Mario Mandzukic - is a more realistic target.